Automatically-controlled clutch



Nov. 12, 1929. H. D. COLMAN AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED CLUTCH OriginalFiled Sept. 10. 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 NM h Ru S w 1 i an: a N g H mxw.b 3 W r NN AQ m I I w w C Ii Pow n I m a N m N p RN Dow 1 *hu a. a 1 Inow 7 T umw w. wnw N3 9mm I il l! I .T J. WWW .i .3 w N QN\ \QN NW Nov.12, 1929. H. D. COLMAN 4, 8

AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED CLUTCH Original Filed Sept. 10, 1917 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.

fur/7W? Patented Nov. 12, 1929 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOWARD I).GOLMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS AUTOMATICALLY-CONTROLLED CLUTCH Originalapplication filed September 10, 1917, Serial No. 190,502. Divided andthis application filed June 23, 1927. Serial No. 200,873.

The object of this invention is to produce mounted on the shaft 124.Fig. 4 shows the a clutch which is automatically controlled frictionshoes 257 as pressed against the drum so as to prevent excessiveacceleration. In 1.28, the wheel 264 having been turned in the mycopending application Serial No. 190,502 direction indicated by thearrow a to press filed September 10, 1917, (of which the presthe shoesagainst the drum. 55 out application is a division), I have shown Themeans for turning the gear wheel 264 the invention is embodied in-aclutch for drivto force the friction shoes 257 against the ing a warper,but it should be understood drum 128 comprises a pinion'265 meshing thatth i v nti i ap licable to arious with the gear wheel 264 and rotatablymounttypes of machinesupon a stud 266 fixed in the bracket 261. so Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is Rigid with the pinion 265 is aratchet wheel a vertical sectional view through a clutch 267 which isarranged to be rotated by means embodying the features of my invention,the of a dog 268 pivoted upon an arm 269 which View being taken upon theplane of dotted 1S loosely mounted on the hub 270 of the line 1 of Fig.4. ratchet wheel 267. The arm 269 is swung e5 Fig. 2 is a fragmentalside view of a d vice in the direction to cause movement of the I toindicate whether or not the accelerationratchet Wheel by means of aneccentric or controlling mechanism is operating properly. crank roller271 arranged to bear against the Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 of Fig-4. surface 272 of the arm 269, said crank roller Fig. 4 is a section online 44 of Fig. 1. b ing fiXed upon a shaft 273 (Fig. 1) which 70 Fig. 5is a section on line 5 of Fig. 1. is rotatably mounted in the bracket261. 1 Fig. 6 i a ction on line 6 of Fig, 5, The arm 269 is swung in theopposite direc- In the drawings, 124 denotes a shaft which 11 by meansOf a spring 274 (Fig. 5). The is driven by means of a clutch ordrive-head shaft 273 is rotated by means of a gear wheel comprising adriving pulley or dr m 128 275 and a pinion 27 6, said pinion beingfixed .75 mounted upon the shaft 124. 129 is a driveto a sleeve 277(Fig. 3 which is rigidly sebelt extending around the drum 128 forconcured to the drum 128 and surrounds the stantly rotating the latter.shaft 124. The means for locking the The shaft 124 may be supported inany ratchet wheel 267 against reverse rotation 30 preferred way, as bymeans including a roller comprises a dog 278 (Fig. 5) mounted upon 30hearing 251 (Fig. 1), said roll r h aring bethe pivot pin 260. Thespring 274 tends to ing provided in a bracket or frame member hold thefeeding dog 268 and the locking dog 252. The drum 128 is supported atone side 278 1n engagement with the ratchet wheel. upon the shaft 124through a roller bearing Means is provided to prevent the friction 253.The other side of the drum is provided shoes 257 from being pressedagainst h with a hub 254 which is mounted in a roller drum 128 with suchforce as to cause excesbearing 255 carried by a bracket or frame sivelyrapid acceleration. This means commember 256. Power is transmitted fromthe prises an inertia wheel 279 (Fig. 1) which drum 128 to the shaft 124to drive the warp is rotatably mounted upon a spindle 280, said 40 beamat high speed through means including spindle being rigidly secured tothe shaft 124 two friction shoes 257 (Figs. 1 and. 4) arin axialalinement with the latter. As shown I ranged to engage the innerperiphery of the in Fig. 1, the inner end of the spindle 280 is drum128. Each shoe 257 is pivoted to the tapered at 280 to fit a taperedopening in the short arm of a bell-crank 258, said bell-cranks inner endof the shaft 124. Adjacent to the being pivoted at 259 and 260 to abracket tapered portion of the spindle 280 is a fixed .95 .261 rigidlyfixed to the shaft 124. The other collar 280. A tubular screw 280 bearsarms. of the bell-cranks 258 are connected against said collar, saidscrew engaging through coiled contractile springs 262 todiascrew-threads in the end of the shaft 124. metrically opposite pins263 upon a gear The pin 260 carried by the bracket 261 ex- Wheel 264,said gear wheel being loosely tends through a slot 281 in the inertiawheel.

A relatively light sp'ing 282 extending between the pin 260 and a pin288 on the inertia wheel, tends to hold the rear end wall of the slot281 against the pin 260. lVhile the bracket 261 and the shaft 124 arebeing accelerated, the inertia wheel 279 lags. Such laggingis utilizedto suspend the action of the spring-tensioning dog 268. Referring toFig. 5: 284 is a stop pawl pivoted to the inertia wheel 279 at 285 andnormally held against a stop 286 by a spring 287. If the lagging of theinertia wheel 279 with relation to the bracket 261 and the shaft 124 issufficient to cause the stop pawl 284 to be relatively moved into thepath of the swinging movement of the arm 269 (as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 5), the movement of said arm caused by the spring 274 will beobstructed by said stop pawl, thus rendering the spring-tensioning dog268 inoperative, increase in acceleration of the shaft 124 being therebysuspended for the time being. If the acceleration should decrease, thespring 282 would be able to turn the inertia wheel until the stop pawl284 was removed from the path of movement of the arm 269. Thespring-tensioning dog 268 would then resume operation. In this mannerthe inertia wheel 279 controls the operation .of the springtensioningdog. As the speed of the shaft 124 and the bracket 261 approaches thespeed of the drive drum 128, the rate of rotation of the gear wheel 275upon its axis decreases, and hence the spring-tensioning dogreciprocates more slowly,

It may be here noted that as the speed of the shaft 124 increases,centrifugal force actin upon the long arms of the bell cranks 258counteracts to some extent the action of the devices that press theshoes against the drum, and thus serves to diminish the acceleration ofthe shaft 124 in case the acceleration becomes excessive.

Means to be hereinafter described is provided for placing the dogs 268and 278 in and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. lVhen thewarper or other driven machine is-at rest, said dogs are out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel, and the shaft 124 and the bracket 261are, of course. stationary.

The pinion 6 rotates constantly with the drum 128 and therefore when thedriven machine is at rest the spur gear wheel 275 is constantly rotatingand the arm 269 is constantly swinging. lVhen it is desired to set themachine in operation, the dogs 268 and 27 8 are placed in engagementwith the ratchet wheel 267, whereupon the dog 268 com mences to turn theratchet wheel to press the friction shoes 257 against the drum 128. Asthe machine is accelerated, progressively less slippage occurs betweenthe shoes 257 and the drum 128 nntil finally, when the machine has beenfully accelerated, the bracket 261 is carried around with the drum 128and there is no relative rotation between the pinion 276 carried by thedrum 128 and the gear wheel 275 carried by said bracket. Hence the arm269 ceases to swing. lVhen the acceleration of the warper has beencompleted, the spring 282 holds the inertia wheel 279 in the positionshown in Fig. 5.

If after the machine has reached the normal winding speed, slippageoccurs between the friction shoes and the drum 128 from any cause, as,for example, by reason of breakage of a spring 262 or a dry bearing inthe driven machine, the gears 275 and 276 will commence to rotaterelatively to each other, thus actuating the spri11g-tensioning dog 268andcausingadditionalforceto be exerted upon the friction shoes. Toprevent such springtensioning movement from being continued to such apoint as to damage the springs or other elements of the mechanism, Iprovide a hook 288 5) pivoted at 289 on the wheel 264, said hook beingadapted to engage a projection 290 on the arm 269. A spring 291 normallyholds the hook 288 against a stop pin 292. If the spring-tensioningmovement of the wheel 264 should continue until the hook 288 engages thearm 269, the swinging movement of said arm will he interrupted and thespringtensioning movement of the wheel 264 will cease.

Since the accelerati(in-controlling mechanism is enclosed within thedrum 128. it may be desirable to provide means for indicating to theoperative how said mechanism operates. Such a device is indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, wherein 293 is a disk fixed to the spindle 280, and 294is a disk located close to the other disk and fixed to a tubular shaftor sleeve 295 fixed to the inertia wheel 279. In each of said disks isformed an annular series of radial slots or sector openings 296 and 297,respectively. When the inertia wheel is lagging, the sectors in one diskare out of register with those in the other disk. When the inertia wheelis not lagging, that is to say, when the rear end wall of the slot 281(Fig. 5) is held against the pin 260 by the spring 282, the sectors inone disk register with those in the other, the light transmitted throughsaid sectors producing the appearance of a ring of light. The operationof the acceleration-controlling means is made apparent by variations inthe brightness of said ring of light.

It will be understood that in lieu of the sectors 297 a series of whitefields of the same shape and size as the sectors 296 may be employed.

The means for throwing the high-speed driving mechanism in and out ofaction comprises a bell crank lever 298 (Figs. 3 and 4') pivoted uponthe bracket 261. One arm of the bell crank 298 is arranged to engage anextension 299 of the locking dog 278 (Fig. 5). Said dog is arranged toengage a lug 300 on the spring-tensioning dog 268 to hold said dog outof engagement with the ratchet wheel 267. When the bell crank 298 isswung into engagement with the extension 299 the looking dog and thespring-tensioning dog are moved away from the ratchet wheel. The otherarm of the bell crank 298 extends into a slot 301 in a rod 302 extendingaxially within and slidable longitudinally of the shaft 124. 303(Fig. 1) is a pin extending through the rod 302 and throughdiametrically-opposite slots 304 in the shaft 124. The pin 303 issecured to a sleeve 204 which is slidable longitudinally of the shaft124. Any preferred means, as, for example, that shown in my applicationSerial No. 190,502, may be employed to slide'the sleeve 204 and thusthrow the clutch "in and out. When the sleeve 204 is moved in thedirection to withdraw the dogs 268 and 278 from the ratchet wheel 267,the

springs 262 turn the wheel 264 in the direction to'remove the pressurefrom the friction shoes 257. To limit such reverse movement of the wheel264,1 provide a cushioning stop 308 (Fig. 4) pivoted to the bracket 26].at 309. A lug 310 on the stop 308 is normally held against a surface 311on the bracket 261. by an expansion spring 312. In the unclutching orthrowing-out movement of the wheel 264, a roller stud 313 (Fig. 4) onsaid wheel strike the stop lug 308, whereby said wheels is vieldinglyarrested.

To throw in the clutch the sleeve 204 and the rod 302 are moved towardthe left Fig. 1), thereby swinging the bell crank 298 (Fig. 3) away fromthe extension 299 (Fig. 5) of the locking dog 278, whereupon thespring274 places the feeding dog 268 and the locking dog 278 in engagementwith the ratchet wheel'267. Since the arm 269 is being constantly swungby the crank roller 271 the dog 268 immediately begins to turn theratchet wheel 267 in the direction to cause the friction shoes 257 topressed against the inner periphery of the drum 128. The, member 261carrying the friction shoes is thereby ro- -tated,-thus causing theshaft 124 to be driven. As slippage between the friction shoes and thedrum 128 decreases. the reciprocations of the spring-tensioning dog 268become slower by reason of the fact that the gear wheel 27 5 isrevolving more and more slowing around the pinion 276. If theacceleration should become too great, the lagging of the inertia wheel279 will cause the swinging movements of the arm 269 to be obstructed bythe stop 284. The clutch thus slowly and uniformly accelerates the shaft124 untilthe speed determined by the speed of the drive belt 129 isreached. It may be here stated that the drum 128 containsa suitablequantity of nation, a clutch comprising a driving member and a drivenmember, means for throwing in the clutch including a ratchet wheelcarried by the driven member, an arm pivoted on the axis ofthe ratchetwheel, a dog carried by said arm and arranged to engage the ratchetwheel, means actuated through relative rotation between the drivingmember and the driven member for swinging the arm, an inertia wheelmounted to rotate on the axis of the clutch andyieldingly connected tothe driven member, and a stop on said wheel arranged to obstruct themovement of said arm.

2. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, means for throwing in the clutchincluding a ratchet wheel carried by the driven member, an arm pivotedon the axis of the ratchet wheel, a dog carried by said arm and arrangedto engage the ratchet wheel, means for swinging the arm, an'inertiawheel yieldingly connected to the driven member, and a stop on saidwheel arranged to obstruct the movement of said arm.

3. A drive mechanism having, in combinat-ion,,a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, means actuated through relativerotation between said members for throwing in the clutch, manipulativemeans for initiating action of the throwing-in means, andinertia-operated means for controlling the action of the throwing-inmeans.

4. A driving mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving mem her and a driven member, means including a dog and ratchetwheel for throwing inthe clutch, said dog being actuated throughrelative rotation between the members of the clutch, manipulative meansfor placing the dog into and out of operation, and inertiaoperated meansfor controlling the action of the dog.

5. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven structure, said structure including a shoe,a part mounted concentrically of the clutch, a connection between saidpart and the shoe, means for turning said part to press the shoe againstthe driving member, said means including a ratchet wheel carried by thedriven structure, an arm pivoted on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a dogcarried by said arm and arranged to engage the ratchet wheel, meansactuated through relative rotation between the driving memstructing themovement of said arm. I

6. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving menuher and a driven structure, said structure ineluding ashoe,a part movablyearried by the clutch, a connection between said partand the shoe, meansfor moving said part to press the shoe against thedriving member,

her and the driven member for swinging the arm, and a stop carried bysaid part for objar said means including a ratchet wheel carried by thedriven structure, an arm pivoted on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a dogcarried by said arm and arranged to engage the ratchet wheel, means forswinging the arm, and a stop carried by said part for obstructing themovement of said arm.

7. A drive mechanism having, in combi nation, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed to said shaft, means carried by said member to engage thedriver, means for actuating said engaging means, said actuatin meansincluding a ratchet wheel carried by said member, a dog for turning theratchet wheel, a crank for operating the dog, a gear wheel for rotatingthe crank, said gear wheel being carried by said member, a gear wheelmeshing with said other gear wheel and driven by said driver, a lockingdog for the ratchet wheel, and means for moving said dogs into and outof engagement with the ratchet wheel. i 8. A drive mechanism having, incombination, a driver, a shaft, a member fixed to said shaft, meanscarried by said member to engage the driver, means for actuating saidengaging means, said actuating means including a ratchet wheel carriedby said member, a dog for turning the ratchet wheel, a part foroperating the dog, a gear wheel for actuating said part, said gear wheelbeing carried by said member, a gear wheel meshing with said other gearwheel and driven by said driver, a locking dog for the ratchet wheel,and means for moving said dogs into and out of engagement with theratchet wheel.

9. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a shaft, a driver mountedconcentrically of the shaft, a member fixed on said shaft, a shoecarried by said member and arranged to engage said driver, a wheelmounted concentrically of the shaft, a connection between said wheel andsaid shoe, and means for turning said wheel to press the shoe againstthe driver, said means including a gear wheel fixed to the driverconcentrically therewith, and a gear wheel meshing with the firstmentioned gear wheel and carried by said member.

10. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft, a shoe carried by said member and arrangedto engage said driver, a part mounted concentrically of the shaft, aconnection between said part and said shoe, and means for turning saidpart to press the shoe against the driver, said means including wheelsengaging each other, one carried by said member and another fixed tosaid driver.

11. drive mechanism having, in combination, a shaft, a driver mountedconcentrically of the shaft, a member fixed on said shaft, a shoecarried by said member and arranged to engage said driver, a partmounted concentrically of the shaft, a connection between said part andsaid shoe, and means for turning said part to press the shoe against thedriver, said means including a wheel fixed to the driver concentricallytherewith, and a wheel engaging the last mentioned wheel and carried bysaid member.

12. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft, a shoe carried by said member and arrangedto engage said driver, a wheel mounted concentrically of the shaft, ayielding connection between said wheel and said shoe, a ratchet wheelcarried by said member, a gear connection between the ratchet wheel andthe first mentioned wheel, a dog for turning the ratchet wheel. a crankfor operating the dog, a gear wheel for rotating the crank, said gearwheel being carried by said memher, a gear wheel meshing with said othergear wheel and. driven by said driver, a locking dog for the ratchetwheel, and means for moving said dogs into and out of engagement withthe ratchet wheel.

13. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft. a shoe carried by said member and arrangedto engage said driver, a part mounted concentrically of the shaft, ayielding connection between said part and said shoe, a ratchet wheelcarried by said member and arranged to turn said part, a dog for turningthe ratchet wheel, means for actuating the dog, said means including agear wheel carried by said member, a gear wheel meshing with said othergear wheel and driven by said driver, a locking dog for the ratchetwheel, and means for moving said dogs into and out of engagement withthe ratchet wheel.

14. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driving drum, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft, a lever pivoted on said member, a shoecarried by said lever and arranged to engage said drum, a wheel mountedconcentrically of the shaft, a yielding connection between said wheeland said lever, a ratchet wheel carried. by said member, a gearconnection between the ratchet wheel and the first mentioned wheel, adog for turning the ratchet wheel. a crank for operating the'dog, a gearwheel for rotating the crank, said gear wheel being carried by saidmember, a gear wheel meshing with said other gear wheel and driven bysaid driving drum, a locking dog for the ratchet wheel, and means formoving said dogs into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel. H

15. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, a part mounted concentrically of theclutch, a connection between said part and the driven member, and meansfor turning said part to press the driven member against the drivingmember, said means including two gear wheels meshing with each other,one supported to revolve with the driven member and another fixed to thedriving member.

16. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft, an element carried by said member andarranged to engage said driver, means for pressing said element againstthe driver including a ratchet wheel carried by said member, an armpivoted on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a dog carried by said arm andarranged to engage the ratchet wheel, means actuated through relativerotation be tween the driver and said member for swin ing the arm, andmeans for moving the dog into and out of engagement with the ratchetwheel.

17. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a driver, a shaft, amember fixed on said shaft, an element carried by said member andarranged to engage said driver, means for pressing said element againstthe driver including a ratchet wheel carried by said member, an armpivoted on the axis of the ratchet wheel, a dog carried by said arm andarranged to engage the ratchet wheel, means for swinging the arm, andmeans for moving the dog into and out of engagement with the ratchetwheel.

18. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, a tubular shaft connected to thedriven member, means including a dog and ratchet wheel for throwing inthe clutch, and means including a rod movable longitudinall'y in thetubular shaft for placing the dog into and out of operation.

19. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, a tubular shaft connected to thedriven member, means including a dog and ratchet wheel for throwing inthe clutch, said dog being actuated through relative rotation betweenthe members of the clutch, and n'i'anipulative means including a rodmovable longitudinally in the tubular shaft for placing the dog into andout of operation. a I

20. A drive mechanism having, in combi nation, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, means actuated through relativerotation between said members for throwing in the clutch, andinertia-operated means for controlling the throwing-in means.

'21. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, means including a dog and ratchetwheel for throwing in theclntch, and inertia-operated means forcontrolling the action of the dog.

22. A drive mechanism having, in combination, a clutch comprising adriving member and a driven member, means including a dog HOWARD D.COLMAN.

